Stringed musical instrument



Jan. l, `1929.

w. SCHMIDT STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT A 2 1sheets-sheet l Filed Aprivl 14, 1925 N INVENTOR His' ATTORNEY w. SCHMIDT STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IAIIS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,697,480 PATENT OFFICE..

WALTER SCHMIDT, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL CORPORATION, F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Applicationled April 14, 1925. Serial N0. 22,940.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments and has for. its ob] ect to improve instruments of vthis class by providing the same with a permanent casing which will.

serve as both a resonator and carrier for the instrument. f

In carrying the invention into effect, I combine a stringed musical instrument with an open-topped casev by permanently mounting the sounding-board or the instrument within the case in spaced relation to the back thereof whereby the case willact as a resonator for the instrument; and I" further provide the case with a removable cover for the open top thereof whereby it may also serve as an enclosing carrier for the instrument.

Referringnow to the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a top plan of an instrument provided with a casing in accordance with my invention, the cover of the casing being open to permit of the playing of the instrument.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the same, and Y Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the instrument with the case closed and in condition to serve as a carrier for the instrument.

My invention broadly considered contemplates the combination of any kind of a stringed musical'instrument witlra casing that will serve as both a resonator and carrier for the instrument proper.

In the present instance I have shown a stringed instrument of a kind known as a violin-Zither, in which the so-called melody strings, indicated at 2, are arranged in a plane above the base or accompaniment strings, indicated at 3. Whereby they may be played with a bow by one hand as in a violin, While the lower or accompaniment strings are picked or played by the fingers of the other hand. Such an arrangement of the strings however, adapting the instrument for playing as a combination violin-Zither does not constitute a' part of the present invention but does form the subject-matter of another application.

The sounding-board upon which the strings are mounted comprises a top board 4 secured on a frame formed of cross strips 5 and side strips 6. In the usual form of stringed instruments, the sounding-board includes a back board corresponding in shape to the top -Figs 2 and 3, whereby said case will serve as a resonator for the instrument.

The sounding-board may be secured wit-hin the case 8 in any suitable way. In the present instance its trame rests on blocks 9, 9 in the opposite ends of the case to which it is secured by suitable fastening means, such as the screws 10.

For the proper playing of the bass or accompaniment strings, these may be located in a plane at or about the top of the case 8, but in order that the melody strings may be properly played with a bow, as indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1, these must be located or positioned in a plane above the top of the case proper, as they are shown to be in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the instrument is not in use, it is adapted to be enclosed. This is accomplished by providing the case 8 with a cover 12 which is hinged at one side to the case, as at 14, 14, and at its opposite side detachably connected to the case by fastening clips of any suitable or standard construction, such as indicated at 15, 15.

An instrument constructed in the manner shown and described, that is, a unitary structure comprising the musical instrument proper and a resonator and carrier therefor, is desirable because of increased volume in tone resulting from the employment of the resonator, greaterconvenience in handling and carrying resulting from the use of the' enclosing case, and greater economy in constructiongthe latter feature resulting from the omission of the regular back-board of the instrument permitted by the employment of the case 8.

The two sets of strings 2 and 3 may be mounted on the board 4 in the relation described by any suitable means. As shown, the bass or accompaniment strings 3 are connected at one end tohitch pins 15 and at their opposite ends to tuning pins 16, between Which they are drawn over bridges 17 and 18. The upper or vmelody strings 2 are-arranged in two sets, one sete-here show-n as eight in number-being connected at one end to hitch or anchor pins 20 let into one side of the instrument trame, from' which they. pass upward through openings in a series of positioning studs 21 arranged in a line parallel With one side of the instrument, and from thence over a bridge 22`to'a setl of tuning pins Q3 mounted on the instrument adj acent oneend thereof. The second set oi mel'- ody strings-also shown as eight in number-is similarly mounted at the opposite side of the instrument. With this arrangement, the melody strings, representing sixteenfnotes, are positioned for convenient engagementby the'boiv at opposite'side's of the instrument; each string being tuned. to produce its proper note in the scalewhen engaged by the bow at the point, indicatedl at a, Where it is exposedl at the side ofthe instrument between its positioning stud and the succeeding one;

What I claim is l. In a musical instrument, a stringed sounding` board', a case with an open top, said sounding board being: mounted Within said case and spaced from theibottom of the case..l the case serving as back board, resonator, and carrier for the sounding. board, and a cover for said case.

2. In va musical instrument, a stringed sounding board, a case With an open top, said sounding. board. being mounted Within said case and spaced from the bottom of the case, with atleast soine of its strings in a plane above the topotl the case, the case serving as back` boar-d, resonator, and carrier for the sounding board, anda cover orsaidcase;

3. In a musical instrumenta case with an open top, a stringed sounding board therein, spacing blocks positioning said sounding board above the bottom of the case, the case serving asback board, resonator,and Garnier forthe sounding board.

it. In a musical instrument, a case with an open top, a stringed sounding board therein, spacing" blocks positioning said. sounding board above the bottom of the case, said sounding board having at least some of its strings above the top of the case, the case serving as-back board, resonator, and carrier for the sounding boa-rd.

In testimony WhereoffI affix my signature.

WALTER SCHMIDT. 

